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What role did William Shakespeare have in the Globe Theatre’s ownership?
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William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, detail of an oil painting attributed to John Taylor, c. 1610. The portrait is called the “Chandos Shakespeare” because it once belonged to the duke of Chandos.
William Shakespeare was a chief shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the theatrical company that founded the Globe Theatre.
In early 1599, Shakespeare invested a sum of money equal to 12.5 percent of the Globe’s construction costs. This investment established a successful commercial model where the leading actors, including Shakespeare, held a direct stake in both the company’s profits and the playhouse itself. Unlike other acting troupes of the era that paid rent to a patron or theater owner, Shakespeare’s company owned their playhouse, costumes, properties, and scripts.12